Recycled Plastic Bottle Scoops

Ever wonder what to do with all those plastic milk, juice and water containers? Vadxx Company is taking non-recyclable plastic and melting it down into a low sulfur crude oil according to CEO Jim Garret in a press release recently. That’s pretty remarkable. Even though we can’t be quite that efficient we can still find creative ways to re-use our plastic bottles too.

Try a few of these ideas or use your creativity and come up with your own.

• Pet ideas. Scoops can be used for dry dog and cat food. They make great clumping litter box scoops, without the lid, clean litter comes through and clumps are left. Ever try to pick up pet messes? A plastic scoop can be pushed under the mess and you have hands free clean up. Use Natures Miracle enzymes for the rest of the clean up.
• Household ideas. These scoops work great for transferring dry potting soil into pots. Refilling your birdseed feeder is a breeze. Fill scoop, hold over top of feeder and carefully open lid to funnel seed into feeder. Use your new handy scoop to pick up dry messes like broken glass, wood chips or nails. Use a scoop (with only the bottom cut out) for a nifty hand held paint pail.
• Kids can help too. Scoops can help kids pick up blocks and small toys. They make great toys for dirt, snow, and bath time. Make sure that the sharp cut edges are covered with tape or filed down (use a nail file) before letting your child use them. Scoops also make a great ‘catch’ game for kids; just add a ball that fits inside the scoop.

• Toilet water saver. Fill plastic jug with water. When toilet tank is empty place filled plastic bottle into tank. The bottle will take up water space but still leave enough water to flush the toilet. This little trick will save you money and help conserve water.
• Garden containers. Give your seedlings a great start by growing them in a recycled plastic pot. Cut off top, including handle and use the bottom for planting.
• Easy funnel. This idea can use any type of plastic bottle. Just cut off the bottom and remove the lid. The perfect funnel. Try one the next time you need to re-fill your car’s oil or antifreeze. Please use pet safe antifreeze.

Here are a few more recycling ideas for plastic containers.

• Toilet water saver. Fill plastic jug with water. When toilet tank is empty place filled plastic bottle into tank. The bottle will take up water space but still leave enough water to flush the toilet. This little trick will save you money and help conserve water.
• Garden containers. Give your seedlings a great start by growing them in a recycled plastic pot. Cut off top, including handle and use the bottom for planting.
• Easy funnel. This idea can use any type of plastic bottle. Just cut off the bottom and remove the lid. The perfect funnel. Try one the next time you need to re-fill your car’s oil or antifreeze. Please use pet safe antifreeze.

Instructions for a traditional milk bottle scoop: using a knife make a small slit at the bottom of the bottle. Cut out bottom, carefully, with scissors. Cut an upside down ‘U’ shape (see black line on scoop picture above) staring from the handle side to the bottom to make open part of scoop. Don’t forget to keep the lid too.

Remember to recycle your projects when you are no longer using them.

Amy is a freelance writer most notable for her work with Rubbermaid Commercial, an online distributor specializing in Rubbermaid utility carts and microfiber cleaning supplies.